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July 14 (UPI) — Members of the Screen Actors Guild went on strike on Friday after failing to reach an agreement with studios.
SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher joined a picket line outside Netflix’s Los Angeles offices on Friday afternoon, receiving cheers from fellow picketers as over 160,000 performers decided to stop working that morning.
The strike will have an impact on events such as the Emmy Awards, San Diego Comic Con, and the production of sequels to major Hollywood blockbusters like Avatar and Gladiators, as the actors stand in solidarity with the ongoing Writers Guild of America Strike.
Red-carpet events for movie premieres and already completed shows will also be affected. Actors Cillian Murphy, Matt Damon, and Emily Blunt walked out of the glitzy premiere of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer in London on Thursday night as the strike was declared.
In response, networks are increasing the number of unscripted reality shows like The Masked Singer, The Amazing Race, Survivor, and Kitchen Nightmares.
Representatives for the actors union expressed their desire for a fair share of streaming profits, improved working conditions, and protection against potential replacements by artificial intelligence.
“SAG-AFTRA negotiated in good faith and wanted to reach a deal that adequately addressed performer needs, but the AMPTP’s [Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers] responses to the union’s most important proposals have been insulting and disrespectful to our significant contributions to this industry,” said SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher in a statement.
“The companies have refused to engage meaningfully on some topics and completely stonewalled us on others. Until they negotiate in good faith, we cannot reach a deal.”
Actors have voiced their support for the strike through interviews and social media since Thursday evening.
Actress Margot Robbie, attending the premiere of Barbie, stated that she would “absolutely” stand by the strike.
Cynthia Nixon, known for her roles in And Just Like That and The Gilded Age, expressed her pride in standing with the striking Writers Guild of America members and their issues regarding AI and streaming service revenue. The writers have been on strike since May following failed negotiations with the studios.
“Actors and writers together demand a fair share of the record-breaking profits that the studios have been reaping from our labor for far too long,” she wrote. “We will win this!”
Octavia Spencer, who stars in Truth Be Told, shared her support on Instagram, stating that actors and writers “cannot do it without each other.”
“I support the many skilled unionized workers across all industries who deserve fair compensation,” she wrote.
